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FAQs / HELP > Facilitation/Coordination FAQ Index > Facilitation/Coordination FAQ

Facilitation/Coordination FAQs

ACCESS for ELLs® Training

A1) How will training for ACCESS for ELLs® be conducted?

WIDA sponsored administrator training for ACCESS for ELLs® is through an online course developed by the Center for Applied Linguistics and hosted on WIDA's web-based learning platform. In addition, most WIDA states have or will also offer face-to-face train-of-trainers workshops for district administrators and coordinators. For more information about registering for online training or to find out about additional opportunities in a specific WIDA member state, contact your state's educational agency.

A2) When will training for the ACCESS for ELLs® take place?

Online training for test administrators in a given state will be available at least one month prior to the opening of its test window.

A3) How long does the test administrator training take?

The test administrator training is in three parts: Test coordination and administration of the group administered sections (listening, reading and writing)--approximately 1.5 hours

Speaking test administration--approximately 1.5 hours

Kindergarten--approximately 20 minutes.

A4) Do all test administrators (TAs) need to take the online training?

Yes. Everyone who will administer the test must do the sections of the online course and take the corresponding quizzes that pertain to the sections for the test that they will be administering.

A5) Do all test administrators (TAs) need to take all three parts of the online training?

Please check with your state coordinator first since some states and districts may require TAs take all quizzes, but generally TAs need to take only those parts of the training that are relevant for them. For example, if Mr. Brown will only be administering the group portions of the test, he will need to take only Part I (test coordination and group administered sections) of the training. If his colleague, Ms. Cho, will be administering the speaking as well, she will need to do Parts I and II (speaking). It is highly recommended that all test administrators take Part I.

A6) Can I do the online training course more than once?

Yes. Once you have been registered for the online course and receive a password, you can take all or part of it as many times as you like. Many test administrators might find it particularly helpful to listen to the speaking samples multiple times prior to administering the test themselves.

Registering Test Administrators

B1) I am a district facilitator for ACCESS for ELLs®. What is the first thing I should do to get my test administrators (TAs) trained?

In some states, it is your responsibility to enroll the users via our Account Creator . These states include Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

In other states, users can enroll themselves using a state login that can be distributed by you and/or the state facilitators. States that handle enrollment in this way include Alabama, Illinois, Maine (temporarily), New Jersey, North Carolina, and North Dakota (temporarily).

Finally, some states handle all enrollment at the state educational agency. Please contact your SEA if you live in Kentucky, Oklahoma or Vermont. Maine and North Dakota will use this system following their periods of open enrollment in the fall of 2008.

B2) Is the ACCESS training account the same as the W-APT™ account?

No, the training course and W-APT™ accounts are independent of each other. Each individual has his or her own unique login for the ACCESS online training course while each district is given one login for W-APT™. Your ACCESS training course account username will be derived from your name, whereas the W-APT™ username contains a district indicator.

B3) I am a district facilitator for ACCESS for ELLs®. How do I delete previously registered test administrators (TAs) whose information is incorrect?

In your role as a district facilitator, you do not have the ability to delete the accounts. If you provide us with the account information you'd like added or deleted through WIDA Help , we can take care of it for you. Each individual user also has the ability to modify his or her own account information (i.e. email address, district affiliation, position type, password) by logging in and clicking on "My Account" in the green menu on the left side of the page.

B4) I have other questions regarding registering in the online course that are not addressed above.

Please contact us through WIDA Help to request assistance.

Login to D2L

C1) I have never received the login information for the online course. What should I do?

If you think that you have been registered but have not received your enrollment email, please check your spam or junk mail folders. Meanwhile, make sure that you have your spam filter inactivated or ensure that your filters will accept mail from help@wida.us and widahelp@wcer.wisc.edu. If you created your own account but did not receive the enrollment email, you can still try logging in with the username and password you submitted. If that doesn't work, contact us through WIDA Help to request  assistance.

C2) I have my username and password, but the system still does not allow me to log in.

Make sure you are logging into the correct website (www.wida.us). If it does not work, contact us through WIDA Help to request assistance.

C3) I lost my username and/or password. What should I do?

Users may look up their passwords by typing their email addresses into our password lookup form. This system will generate an email to you which contains your usernams and password.  If this system does not work for any reason, please email us at help@wida.us with your first, last name, district name, school email address, and phone number. We will contact you to remind you of your login information within one business day.

C4) I have other questions regarding login that are not addressed above.

Please contact us through WIDA Help to request assistance

Online Training Materials, Quizzes, and Grade Reports

D1 )I tried listening to the speaking samples, but they do not play.

If you cannot hear the speaking samples even under the "Content" menu, it is more than likely your computer is not set up or equipped properly for the playing of the sound files. Please have your tech person take a look at it.

D2) I am a test administrator for ACCESS for ELLs®. I passed the quizzes, but where can I get my certificate or where can I print out the grade reports?

If you take the quiz under your student account (rather than WIDAInstructor account), you will have a grade. If you have a grade higher than 80, you are certified to administer the ACCESS for ELLs®. However, you do not receive an actual certificate unless your district has designed one (as some have done). If you need tangible evidence, you can go to the "Grades" section of the D2L course and print out the quiz scores. To do so, look on the far right hand side of the masthead until you see the link for "Grades" (next to "Logout"). If you click on this link, you will see your scores for all three quizzes. This page can be printed as proof that you successfully completed the training. If you do not see the "Grades" link, you will need to expand your viewable window until it appears. Illinois educators who have successfully completed the quizzes and who registered with their IEIN will have their certification noted in the ECS system within a few weeks.

D3) I am a district facilitator for ACCESS for ELLs®. Can I print out a list of the test administrators (TAs) who passed the quizzes?

Yes. District facilitators will have a menu item under "My Training" called "My District's Grades." You can print off the whole page or search for them individually by name and then check their quiz grades and print their certificates. Otherwise, you can ask teachers to print out a copy of their quiz grades when they have finished and give a hard copy to you for your records. Teachers can do this by either printing off the "My Quizzes" page, or by printing the certificate.

D4) Do the test administrators (TAs) initially trained last year (or earlier) need to be retrained this year?

If TAs have already been trained to administer ACCESS for ELLs®, they do not need to be retrained unless an individual state or district requries it. We do strongly recommend that anyone administering the speaking section review the sample sound files to "calibrate" themselves and review the rubrics, but they needn't redo quizzes. It is, of course, an excellent idea to review the Test Administration Manual prior to administration.

D5) Where can I download the Nondisclosure Agreement for the ACCESS for ELLs® test?

The NDA link is the second page of the "Overview Module."

D6 )I am a district facilitator for ACCESS for ELLs® and attempt to set up a testing schedule. Where can I find the sample schedule forms?

You can find these in two places within the online course: under the heading of "Test Management Module" you will see links to these forms; and within the Test Administration Manual.

D7) I have other questions regarding the course content that are not addressed above.

Please contact us through WIDA Help to request assistance.

Miscellaneous

E1) I have a Macintosh computer. Can I take the course with my computer?

Yes. If a particular system or browser seems to be causing repeated problems, please let us know so that we can attempt to address the issue.

E2) I have other questions that are not addressed above.

Please contact us through WIDA Help to request assistance.

ACCESS for ELLs® Test Administration


F1) What is the administration time of the ACCESS for ELLs®?

LISTENING: 25 minutes (group administered)

SPEAKING: up to 15 minutes (individually administered)

READING: 35 minutes (group administered)

WRITING: 60 minutes (group administered)

It is not a timed test; these times are approximate and vary slightly by grade level cluster, tier, and levels of English language proficiency. A tier A first grader, for example, may finish the writing section of the test within 20 minutes whereas an eleventh grade student taking the tier C test would probably need 60 minutes to complete the writing section.

F2) Does the test need to be administered in one sitting? Does each section (language domain) need to be administered in one sitting?

No, although the test should not be administered in one sitting, it is advisable to maintain the integrity of each section. Ideally, as listening and reading are combined in a test booklet, these two sections should be administered together. Writing, also contained in the booklet should be kept secure; to the extent feasible, this section should also be administered in one sitting. Finally, speaking, as it is an individual section, needs a separate time slot.

F3) Within a grade level cluster, can the tiers be combined for the group administered parts of the test?

No, not at this time. This is especially true for the listening section of the test. The script for the listening section is read aloud by the test administrator; each tier has a different script; therefore, students taking different tiers could not be in a room together. Furthermore, in all language domains (sections), each tier has its own administration directions and, in many cases, the practice items that the group reviews together are not the same across tiers. WIDA strongly recommends that students taking differing tiers not be combined for administration.

F4) Will previous editions of the ACCESS for ELLs® be released?

The WIDA Consortium plans to make some items that are no longer in use available for teacher reference and student practice. There are currently no plans to release complete editions of tests.

F5) How do we know the ACCESS for ELLs® is reliable and valid?

The ACCESS for ELLs® has been built from a theoretical base and WIDA's English language proficiency standards, a common ground for curriculum, instruction, and assessment (construct, content, and consequential validity). It has been piloted and field tested on over 10,000 students, including diverse ELLs and proficient English speakers, across the WIDA Consortium states. Initial analyses have yielded high levels of internal reliability. In addition, in order for a teacher to be certified for test administration, high inter-rater reliability is required as part of the on-line training for the speaking section.

F6) What do Test Administrators (TAs) do if there are problems with the testing environment?

The first place to go for assistance is to the Building Administrator and/or District Testing Coordinator. Even though there may be fewer students, it is essential that the ACCESS for ELLs® test be administered in the same way as the state-level academic achievement assessments, i.e. in a quiet, secure space where they can work uninterrupted for the full testing period and perform at their optimal ability.

F7) There are students around who have done very well on various sections of the test and yet have to repeat them because of a weakness in one area. In future years, is it possible to only test areas where they scored below the cut-off?

Under Title III, "States MUST ANNUALLY assess the English language proficiency of all LEP students in the five domains of speaking, listening, reading, writing and comprehension, for grades K-12. Title I also requires annual assessment of English language proficiency in four of these domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing." In order to score a student's test and show annual growth, the student must be tested in ALL domains annually. The composite score is also based on all domains from the current year.

F8) Do we test students who have been here for six months or less, who have very limited English?

The law requires that all ELLs be tested annually. By testing the student, you gain baseline data by which to measure progress over the upcoming year. The student's level of proficiency needs to be established.

Pre-ID Labels

G1) Who can order Pre-ID labels and where to order?

Student Pre-ID labels must be ordered in advance by the DISTRICT LEVEL coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®. If ordered, student pre-ID labels will be shipped with the testing materials. Pre-ID labels contain the name, grade, and other pertinent information about individual students, as well as district and school information. You will receive one label for each student. If you are a district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs® and want to order Pre-ID labels, please call MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868.

G2) I am a district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®. Is there a deadline for ordering Pre-ID labels?

YES, there is a DEADLINE for ordering Pre-ID labels and submitting information to MetriTech (generally the deadline is two weeks prior to the close of the test window). Please contact MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868 to see if you can meet the deadline.

G3) How do I set up Pre-ID labels (i.e., submit student demographic data to MetriTech)?

MetriTech will accept demographic data on 3.5" diskettes (PC or MAC) or sent electronically to or wida@metritech.com.

When entering student data in the given format on your diskette or file, please note the following:

  • Enter all data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or an ASCII (a plain text file) format. 
  • If using Excel, please set up numeric fields as text. Numbers will then be treated as text and the leading zeros will remain in the file.
  • Data must appear in the Field Positions noted.
  • Special characters cannot be used and will be ignored (e.g., hyphens or slashes).
  • A student must appear ONLY ONCE in the data set. For further questions or additional information related to the Pre-ID labels, contact MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868 or wida@metritech.com. 

G4) What if I am not sure about the student information? Should I guess?

The student data is essential as test results will be entered and used for accountability purposes. Districts should make every effort to ensure that each student's data is correct, especially student ID and birth date.

G5) What do I do if the information on the Pre-ID labels is incorrect?

Since reports will contain student information exactly as it appears in your file, check the pre-ID labels carefully to be sure that the information provided is correct. If the data in your file are found to be incorrect later, DO NOT USE the incorrect Pre-ID labels. The site level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs® or the test administrator must fill in the information. The space for this information is on the front and back cover of the test booklet. For instructions about hand-entering the student information, please refer to your District and School Test Administrator's Manual ACCESS for ELLs®. It has detailed information and pictures to assist you in filling out the information.

G6) My district did not order the Pre-ID labels in time. Is there anything to do now?

Unfortunately, if districts do not submit data for Pre-ID labels or submit incomplete data, it will be necessary to bubble in all demographic data on the test booklets.

G7) I have other questions regarding Pre-ID labels. Who should I ask?

If you are a district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs, contact MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868 or email wida@metritech.com.

If you are a site level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs, contact your district level coordinator. The district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs® refers to the state department identified assessment/testing coordinator, bilingual/ESL coordinator, or school system's testing coordinator in your district who is responsible for coordinating ACCESS for ELLs® and facilitating test administrator (TA) training. If you are not sure who that person is, you may contact your state coordinator to find out. (For a list of state coordinator contact information, please visit your state's page of our website)

Test Booklets and Test Materials

H1) Who can order booklets and where to order?

Booklets should be ordered at the DISTRICT LEVEL through MetriTech's secure website (http://www.metritech.com). If you are a district level coordinator and want to order booklets, please call MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868 for username and password to access the website.

H2) I am a district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®. Are there special considerations for ordering?

Because the ACCESS for ELLs® is a tiered test, districts will need to determine tier placement for each student prior to placing the order for booklets. (For information about tiers and tier placement, see "Tiers" in the section on ACCESS for ELLs® Test Characteristics.) Remember: Unless you are in a district with too few English language learners to make generalizations, the majority of students will fall into Tier B. Students' placement into tiers generally does not and should not fall into three evenly divided groups, one for each of the three tiers.

H3) I am a district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®. How do I place my order online through MetriTech's secure website?

1. Visit http://www.metritech.com  

2. Click on the MetriTech logo (the large M) to access the home page.

3. Click on the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs® button on the left-hand side of the screen.

4. On the next screen, you will be asked to enter a User Name and Password provided by MetriTech (contact MetriTech for the username and password at 1-800-747-4868). Enter the user name and password using all lower case (case sensitive). The same password will be used to access your order confirmation. If you make a mistake, you will be denied access, and the system will prompt you to try again. Check to make sure caps lock is off. Type the password and user name again.

5. The next screen is a Welcome to WIDA ACCESS to ELLs® screen. Choose your state from the drop down menu. Select the START button and follow the on-line instructions.

H4) I am a district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®. What if I need to order more test booklets? Is there a deadline?

Each district will receive a 5% overage of materials, and please use all materials from the district overage before requesting additional materials from MetriTech. If additional materials are needed, you may email requests for materials to MetriTech, Inc at wida@metritech.com and include the district name, address, and contact person in the email. Also, specify the grade and tier level for each booklet requested, and number needed. If additional materials cannot be ordered by email, FAX the Additional Materials Order form to MetriTech, Inc., at (217) 398-5798. Please WAIT and ORDER Materials ONCE for your district. Please also note that there is a DEADLINE for ordering test materials (generally the deadline is two weeks prior to the close of the test window). Contact MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868 to see if you can meet the deadline.

H5) Where do the materials go once ordered?

All materials are shipped from MetriTech to the district level coordinator (the state department identified district assessment/testing coordinator, bilingual/ESL coordinator, or school system's testing coordinator). The district level coordinators need to keep any extra materials until materials are requested by schools.

H6) What materials are included in the boxes?

The District box (labeled box #1) will include: * District Packing List (plus a copy of each school's Packing List); * District/School Test Administration Manual: 1 per district and 1 per school; * Test Administration Scripts: 1 per 10 (classroom size groups); * Speaking Tests: 1 per 10 (classroom size groups); * Overage of Listening, Reading, and Writing Series 101 test booklets for each grade and tier ordered for the district; * Pre-ID Labels for each school (if ordered); * Return Instructions Packet including: return instructions and UPS A.R.S label(s) for return of documents (1 per box shipped). The Material boxes will include: * School Packing List; * Grade/Tier Header Sheets; * Documentation of Materials Not Returned Form; * District/School Test Administration Manual; * Test Administration Scripts; * Speaking Tests; * Listening, Reading and Writing Series 101 test booklets for each grade/tier being tested (this booklet includes a score sheet in the back to record the Speaking test scores). Use the "Documentation of Materials Not Returned Form" if there is a discrepancy between the packing list and the materials that you received.

H7) What is the first thing I should do before testing?

District level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®: When materials arrive, it is imperative that you inventory each shipment. The Packing Lists should be compared with the test materials in all boxes, including School boxes, to ensure that there are no discrepancies and sufficient materials have been ordered.

Site level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®: Inventory all boxes immediately upon arrival from the district coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs® and verify (within 24 hours of receipt) that there are enough testing materials. Count out test booklets for each class in your school. If pre-ID labels were not ordered or if any pre-ID label contains incorrect information, the necessary student demographic information must be hand-entered. You (as a site level coordinator) will need to make a decision as to who (you or the test administrators) will fill out the demographic student information on each test booklet. If you have decided that test administrators will fill this out, be sure they have the following information: District Code number and School Code number. If you are not sure how to hand-enter the Pre-ID labels or have other questions regarding Pre-ID labels, refer to the FAQs under the Pre-ID category.

H8) What if I notice a discrepancy between the Packing List and the materials I received?

District level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®: Any discrepancies between the Packing List and materials that are received must be documented on the Documentation of Materials Not Returned Form.

Site level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®: If there is any discrepancy or if additional materials are needed, notify your district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs® at once. Your district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs® will provide the additional materials from overage. The district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs® refers to the state department identified assessment/testing coordinator, bilingual/ESL coordinator, or school system's testing coordinator in your district who is responsible for coordinating ACCESS for ELLs® and facilitating test administrator (TA) training. If you are not sure who that person is, you may contact your state coordinator to find out. (For a list of state coordinators, please click here.)

H9) When and how should I prepare to distribute the test materials?

District level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®: Test materials should be distributed as soon as possible. Deliver the test materials to the school assessment coordinator(s). Each box will be labeled with the school name for ease of identification. Be sure to SAVE PACKING CARTONS for return shipments. In preparation for distribution of materials, the district assessment coordinator should prepare a list of the following for each school: * Grades to be tested in each school; * Amount of testing materials required by each school; and * Testing schedule for each school.

Site level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®: Test booklets MAY NOT be distributed prior to the testing dates. When distributing test materials, the school assessment coordinator should have the test administrators count all assigned materials.

H10) The testing window is over. What do I do now?

District level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®: Collect all test materials from the school assessment coordinators. Using the Packing List, verify that all materials have been received from the school assessment coordinators. Be sure to include the materials from the district overage. Verify that the following are accurate on each Grade/Tier Header Sheet: * District and School Name; * Number of materials under this header; and * Proper Grade and Tier recorded. Ship ALL materials to MetriTech, Inc., as soon as possible after testing is complete.

Site level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®: Collect test materials from test administrators. As a site level coordinator, you should check the materials that are returned. ALL test materials must be accounted for. Check the test booklets. Be sure that the student information section of each booklet has a Pre-ID label affixed or that the student demographic information has been completed appropriately.

H11) The testing window is over. What do I do if I find that something is missing?

Record all missing documents and the reasons that they are missing in the space provided on the Documentation of Materials Not Returned Form.

H12) I am a district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®. Are there specific return instructions?

In your district materials from MetriTech, Inc., a return instruction packet was included. This return packet contained Return instructions and UPS A.R.S. label(s) for return of documents (one for each exterior box shipped to your district). Be sure to place ALL Packing Lists in Box 1. The following materials MUST be returned to MetriTech, Inc., in ONE complete shipment: * Completed test booklets; * All unused testing material; * Test Administration Scripts and Picture Cue Booklets; and * District and School Test Administration Manuals. * Sort and stack all the test booklets for each school separately by grade/tier. * Place the completed Grade/Tier Header Sheet for that school/grade/tier on top of the stack. * Place all school bundles in the box(es) in which the testing materials arrived. * Place all Packing List(s) for all school(s) in the top of Box 1 of the entire shipment. The packing list(s) should be the first item seen when Box 1 is opened. * Seal the box(es) and number them consecutively (i.e., Box 1 of ___, Box 2 of ___, etc.). As a district assessment coordinator, you should have one UPS A.R.S. label for the exterior of each box being returned (please call MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868 if you find you don?t have enough return labels). For each UPS A.R.S. label, complete the top section with the following information: NAME: Fill in the name of the district assessment coordinator. COMPANY: Fill in the district name. ADDRESS: Enter the district?s street address, city, state, and zip code. Remove the backing from the label and place the label over the original shipping label. The original label must be covered or crossed out so that a UPS scanner cannot read the bar code information on it. Put the box(es) where UPS normally picks up/delivers. The UPS driver will pick up the box(es) and return them to MetriTech at no cost to the district. If the district does not have regular UPS service, call 1-800-742-5877 and arrange an A.R.S. pick-up. Provide the tracking number from the label and the total number of boxes for pick-up. Have UPS enter the tracking number and proceed through the UPS pick-up process until the end to see that the district will not be charged. Box(es) should be picked up within 48 hours. Please make sure the shipment is picked up.

H13) I have other questions regarding test materials, who should I ask?

If you are a district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs, contact MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868 or email wida@metritech.com.

If you are a site level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs, contact your district level coordinator. The district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs® refers to the state department identified assessment/testing coordinator, bilingual/ESL coordinator, or school system?s testing coordinator in your district who is responsible for coordinating ACCESS for ELLs® and facilitating test administrator (TA) training. If you are not sure who that person is, you may contact your state coordinator to find out. (For a list of state coordinators, please click here. )

Students Moving during Test Windows

I1) What do we do if an ELL student moves to a different school within our district during the ACCESS for ELLs® testing window?

If a student moves from one school to another within your district, the student test booklet should be sent to their new school if portions of the test still remain to be tested. The second school completes the test and sends it to MetriTech. If the test has already been completed at the first school, it should be sent to MetriTech from the first school. Note that this might vary by state, and please refer to your state department of Education for further guidance.

I2) What do we do if an ELL student moves out of our district to another district during the ACCESS for ELLs® testing window?

If the student is moving out and has not yet started the test, do not forward the booklet. If they have started the test then forward the booklet. Note that this might vary by state, and please refer to your state department of Education for further guidance.

I3) What do we do if we receive a new ELL student into our district during the ACCESS for ELLs® testing window?

If they are moving in, and student records do not indicate any portions of the ACCESS have been taken, you might want to contact the ACCESS coordinator in that district (if you are not sure who that person is, please visit your state's page to find his or her contact information). Also consider asking the student if they have taken any of the test. When in doubt, give the student the entire test so that you have LEP levels for state and federal reporting. If the student is either from out of state or did not complete the ACCESS in their previous district, complete all of the ACCESS and return to MetriTech. Note that this might vary by state, and please refer to your state department of Education for further guidance.

I4) Do we still have to test new ELL students if they arrive at the end of the ACCESS testing window?

If a student arrives prior to the last week of the window, and is either from out of state or did not complete the ACCESS in their previous district, do what you can to get the test completed. If time does not allow for this, or it is within days of the end of the window, use the W-APT (WIDA ACCESS Placement Test) to determine an English proficiency level for the student as you would for a student arriving after the window closes. Note that this might vary by state, and please refer to your state department of Education for further guidance.

Test Security

J1) I am a district level coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®. How am I responsible for the ACCESS for ELLs® test administration and test security?

As a district level coordinator, you are responsible for coordinating the administration of ACCESS for ELLs® in your district; coordinating the distribution of test materials to the schools; and ordering additional materials as needed, and returning all test materials to MetriTech, Inc. You must account for all materials that are distributed and returned. You are also responsible for maintaining test security prior to and during testing. All of the test materials are to be kept secure and confidential. The personnel involved with testing are responsible for ensuring that no materials are duplicated and that no specific test information is shared with students prior to or after testing. As a district coordinator, you should remind all personnel involved with testing to do the same.

J2) How serious is the security for the test?

This is a state-mandated test and requires the same test integrity as other state tests. Contents are secure! Place all secure materials in locked storage. Do not leave materials unattended before or after testing. It is the responsibility of the district to ensure that all personnel assigned to testing are adequately trained in the areas of test administration and security. Any breaches of test security or problems with test administration may result in the invalidation of student scores. It is imperative that staff be knowledgeable regarding proper test administration and security procedures.

J3) I am a district coordinator for ACCESS for ELLs®. What do I need to emphasize to school assessment coordinator and test administrators (TAs?)?

Emphasize the following items: 

  •  All test materials are secure, must be accounted for, and may not be duplicated. 
  • Maintain test security prior to and during testing. All of the test materials are to be kept secure and confidential. 
  • The personnel involved with testing are responsible for ensuring that no materials are duplicated and that no specific test information is shared with students prior to or after testing. 

ELL Students with Special Needs/ Accommodations

K1) Are the test administrators (TAs) allowed to use accommodations on ACCESS for ELLs® for students with disabilities?

Yes, many types of accommodations can be made to ACCESS for ELLs® for students whose disabilities preclude them from participating in the assessment as it is typically administered. The key criterion for determining whether a particular accommodation is allowable is to decide whether it will compromise the validity of ACCESS for ELLs® as an assessment of English language proficiency. Please consult the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) and teachers who work with the child for guidance on which types of accommodations would be helpful to that student. WIDA's accommodations policy will also help inform your decisions.

K2) What are considered appropriate accommodations that can be made for students with disabilities who will be taking ACCESS for ELLs®

Testing accommodations are changes in the way a student is given a test or asked to respond to test questions. Testing accommodations are meant to offset challenges caused by a disability so that students with disabilities can demonstrate their English language skills on the ACCESS for ELLs®. Accommodations such as extended time, extra breaks, repeating directions, testing in a separate room, and providing praise are acceptable. Examples of inappropriate accommodations include presenting directions or test items, or allowing a student to respond, in the student?s native language, including sign language. It is important to note that appropriate accommodations will differ by assessment domain (listening, reading, writing, speaking). The general rule for determining whether a particular accommodation is allowable is determining whether it will compromise the validity of ACCESS for ELLs® as an assessment of English language proficiency. Please refer to the WIDA accommodation policy for further guidance.

K3) Can test administrators (TAs) give ACCESS for ELLs® to a student in his or her native language?

No. Because ACCESS for ELLs® is an assessment of English language proficiency, giving it to a student in a language other than English would change what it is measuring. Therefore, NO USE OF A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH for interpreting test items is allowed. However, limited use of the student's home language for giving directions is allowable. Please refer to the WIDA accommodation policy for further guidance.

K4) Are ELL students required to take ACCESS for ELLs® even though they are receiving special education services?

Yes, they need to be included in the annual English language proficiency assessment, but they may take it with accommodations that are appropriate for the child's specific disability. Please refer to the WIDA accommodation policy for further guidance.

K5) Are ELL students required to take ACCESS for ELLs® even though they are receiving special education services?

Absolutely. The testing times for ACCESS are "recommendations" but can be extended at the test administrator?s discretion. Please refer to the WIDA accommodation policy for further guidance.

K6) Where do I go for more information about testing accommodations?

Please refer to the WIDA accommodation policy for further guidance.

Scoring

L1) How do ACCESS for ELLs® scores compare with those from other ELP tests?

In spring 2005, the WIDA Consortium conducted bridge studies to determine comparability between ACCESS for ELLs® and four commonly used English Language Proficiency instruments (IPT, MAC II, LPTS, and LAS). A technical report on this study is tentatively scheduled for release in spring 2006.

L2) What information is included in the score reports?

The scores include: 

  • Listening 
  • Speaking
  • Reading 
  •  Writing
  • Oral language (50% Listening and 50% Speaking) 
  •  Literacy (50% Reading and 50% Writing)
  • Comprehension (70% Reading and 30% Listening)
  • Overall composite score (15% Listening, 15% Speaking, 35% Reading, and 35% Writing)

The Teacher Report will also give each student's raw scores for each standard to help them better understand their students' strengths and weakness as demonstrated on ACCESS for ELLs®.

The following reports will be issued:

  • Individual student report for Parent/Guardian 
  • Individual student report for Teachers
  • Student roster by grade for each school
  • Frequency distribution by English language proficiency level for each school by grade
  • Frequency distribution by English language proficiency level for each District by school Districts will also have the option of buying a complete set of electronic data for the district. The cost for this diskette (or similar form) is $85.

L3) How will the ACCESS for ELLs® be scored?

Sections of the ACCESS for ELLs® will be scored in one of three ways. Speaking: The speaking section will be scored by the test administrator as the student responds. The scores for each item will be recorded on the back inside cover of the students' test booklet and returned to MetriTech to compute overall speaking scores. Reading and Listening: The items for these two sections are all selected response (multiple-choice). They will be machine scored by MetriTech. Writing: This section contains constructed response items where students respond by writing directly on the page. These items will be scored by trained raters at MetriTech.

L4) Are the tests all scored the same? For example, with the 3-5 tests, are third graders scored the same as 5th graders? Are 1st graders scored the same as 2nd graders?

ACCESS for ELLs® is not a norm-referenced test, and therefore, does not produce student scores referenced to a norm group. It is a criterion-referenced test, which is scored against the language proficiency standards and shows where students are on the language proficiency continuum. The cut scores are determined for each test form and each grade level. Therefore, students with the same raw scores may or may not achieve the same English language proficiency level, based on the grade level. Students in the lower grade(s) of each grade level cluster are credited slightly for taking a test that is geared toward students in their own grade but also in higher grades.

L5) Where do I go to get more information about score reports?

If you have other questions regarding score reports, please contact MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868 or email wida@metritech.com.